In planning a bit of light fare for this Muse, I got a wild hair and decided to paraphrase Ephesians 1:3-14. Paul may have been the most intense person that ever lived. His writings burst from the page in an exuberant celebration of what Christ accomplished for us at the cross. This passage is one of his more explosive expressions. Verses 3 through 14 were all written as one single 202-word sentence. It’s as if Paul got started and couldn’t stop, even to place a period and start a new sentence! So I decided to paraphrase this passage and render it in one sentence, both for fun and to celebrate Easter. Happy reading!

Praise God, the Father of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has confirmed our citizenship in heaven by endowing us with a full set of spiritual gifts, as is proper for people he was pleased to choose before the world began to model his righteousness and to become his very sons and daughters in Christ ― all to display to the world the wonderful grace he gave through his only Son, whose blood has secured redemption and forgiveness of sins for us according to God’s wisdom, understanding and grace and pursuant to the revelation he was pleased to give of his secret desire, through Christ, to bring everything in heaven and earth under his rule at the close of the ages, particularly the people he chose through predestination in accordance with his own plans to make us, the first to hope in Christ, shine with his own glory as we became part of Christ’s administration after hearing the truth of the gospel and receiving the salvation that is marked by the seal of the promised Holy Spirit as a deposit that guarantees our inheritance in advance of the redemption of those who are God’s possession ― to the esteem of his glory. (Ephesians 1:3-14, AAV)

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About Douglas Abbott

I am a freelance writer by trade, philosopher and comedian by accident of birth. I am an assiduous observer of humanity and endlessly fascinated with people, the common elements that make us human, what motivates people and the fingerprint of God in all of us. I enjoy exploring the universe in my search for meaning, beauty and friendship. My writing is an extension of all these things and something I did for fun long before I ever got paid. My hope is that the reader will find in this portfolio a pleasing and inspiring literary hodgepodge. Good reading!

2 Responses to Easter in Ephesus

Wow, that is a power packed passage, can’t think of a sentence in all the world like it. I especially like, “his secret desire, through Christ, to bring everything in heaven and earth under his rule at the close of the ages,” that is a hope filled statement now isn’t it? Looking forward to tomorrow, hope you enjoy a full measure of his purchase.